Against Symbolizing with Antichrist in Ceremonies, Part · Chapter 2 · Section 23 [i.e. 22]
#Sect. 23. The Oppoſites giuegive that to the ſigne of the Croſſe, which is onelyonly proper to an eſſentiall part of the Sacrament.
SEcondly, though we intend not to make the Croſſe a part of Baptiſme, yet we giuegive that to him which onelyonly is proper to an eſſentiall part thereof, and it is ſacriledge (ſaith one of ouraChemnit: exam. p. 2. tit. de tit. writers) to giuegive that, which is proper to a Sacrament in whole or in part to any thing elſe. Our writersbCalſh. ag. Mart. art. 4. D. Fulke reply art. 4 p. 166. tell vsus, the oyle is aboliſhed, becauſe it incroched vponupon the materiall ſigne of Baptiſme. Now wherein doth the oyle more then the croſſe? Though to be a ſigne be not proper to a ſacrament, yet to be a ſigne [cTho. Aquin. p. 3. qu. 60, art. 5. ad …. determined] in Gods couenant, is in part (at leaſt) proper to it. Now this the ſigne of the Croſſe hath with vsus. Seeing the Iewes (ſaithdAuguſt. com. Fauſt. lib. 19. cap. 14. Auguſtine) died for their ceremonies, how much more ought we to ſtriue, pro Sacramento, pro Chriſti Baptiſmo, proſigno Dei? We follow him and ſtriue for the Croſſe as for a Sacrament, and doe wee not (then) giuegive it the honour, which is proper to an eſſentiall part of Baptiſme? Is there ſo much care for the puritie of Baptiſme, as there is for the honour of this ſigne? If Baptiſme it ſelfe were in queſtion, could it be more egerly maintained then now the Croſſe is? What that we giuegive it euen the office of an eſſentiall part or Baptiſme, of which hereafter? Thirdly, though we intend not to make the Croſſe a neceſſi…ry part of Baptiſme, yet we ſeeme to make it: which is faulty by that councell which aboliſhed the Trine immerſion vponupon this reaſon,eConcil. Tolet. 4. can. 5. ne approbare videantur hareticorū aſſertionem dum ſequuntur & morem. And I would we had no cauſe to complaine of the effectes of this our ſeeming. For it is knowne that ſome refuſete be Godfathers where the Croſſe is not vſed. Others liuing in places where it is diſuſed, carry their children where they may hauehave it. It hath bene knowne alſo that children hauehave bene rebaptized for the lacke of it. The people are in fault for this. True, for the ſinne, but our Gouernors for the ſtumbling blocke, who though the Croſſe be mos haereticorum yet vſe it, and continue it in Baptiſme, together with the ſigne of the couenant, as if it were equall with it. For what courſe hauehave we taken here to make it ſeeme inferior to it? It is thought the Prieſt is preiudiced in his order when thefTho. Aquin. p. 3. qu. 8 a. art. 3. Deacon is ſuffered to ſit with him, or to conſecrate in his preſence. But the Croſſe ſitteth with Baptiſme and dedicateth our ſeed to God. ThegDamaſ. Pap. in epiſt. decretal. Cor Epiſcopus is barred from faluting the people, with the ſigne of the Croſſe in the preſence of the Biſhop, but the ſigne of the Croſſe, not onelyonly ſaluteth, but alſo receiueth and admitteth our children into the Church, in the preſence of Baptiſme.hCicero pro Cecinna. EueryEvery King putteth of his Crowne in an others kingdome; eueryeverylAct. & monu. Archbiſhop layeth downe his Croſſe in an others Prouince;mLeui. decad. 1. li. 2. eueryevery Subordinate ſtate ſubmitteth his Mace, in the preſence of a greater. Whereas no man diueſteth a Croſſe, what ſhould I ſay, lay him downe or aſide? in the Kingdome, Prouince, or preſence of Baptiſme; when the moſt part ſtrike to hoyſte him yet higher. ThenDurant. de rit. lib. 2. cap 9. ſect. 35. Abbot is bound to weare a Miter of leſſe ornament then the Biſhop, that when both be in place together, the Abbot may be knowne to be inferior to the Biſhop, whereas there is no order taken to make it outwardly appeare, that the Croſſe is inferior to the water. When there is ſomething mingled with the bread in the Lords Supper, all is marred, if the permixture be [oTho. Aquin. p. 3. qu. 74. art. 3. ad 3. Magna] puta ex aequo vel quaſi. When the wine is mingled with the water, there muſt bee [pDurant. de rit. lib. 2. cap. 27. ſect. 3. paululum aquae] & plus de vino quam de aqua. Whereas therefore in all caſes of emulation, the wiſe dome of man hath prouided ſenſible ſignes and viſible markes of inferioritie, we are to blame that in our vſe of the Croſſe in Baptiſme, we ordaine ſuch a viſible and ſuch an outward adminiſtring of him, as Baptiſme hath it ſelfe.